What Is a Freight Vehicle? Here’s the Definition & Its Types

1 week ago

Freight vehicles play a crucial role in the distribution process, both on a small and large scale—including industries that rely on cold storage during distribution.

There are many types of freight vehicles, ranging from small vans for inner-city deliveries to large trucks capable of transporting heavy loads across long distances.

Unfortunately, not everyone understands how to choose the right type of vehicle based on their needs. Yet, selecting the right freight vehicle can significantly impact delivery efficiency and help ensure the goods arrive safely and in optimal condition.

So, what exactly is a freight vehicle? What are the different types, and how do you choose the most suitable one?

Let’s explore the full explanation below!

What Is a Freight Vehicle?

A freight vehicle is a type of vehicle specifically designed to transport goods from one location to another.

These vehicles come in various shapes and sizes—such as trucks, vans, or pickups—and are equipped with features tailored to the type and characteristics of the goods being transported.

Their main function is to support the distribution and delivery process to ensure it runs efficiently, safely, and in line with business needs.

Freight vehicles are widely used across various industries such as logistics, trade, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing, playing a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and reliable supply chain.

Tips for Choosing the Right Freight Vehicle

Selecting the right freight vehicle is essential to ensure the efficiency and safety of your logistics operations. Here are several important tips to consider:

1. Match the Vehicle with Load Capacity

Choose the type of vehicle based on the volume and weight of goods being delivered. Using a vehicle that is too large or mismatched in capacity can slow down deliveries and increase the risk of damage to the goods.

2. Prioritize Delivery Efficiency and Safety

Select a vehicle that can ensure the safety of your goods—both during transit and upon delivery to the customer.
Make sure the delivery service you use is equipped with adequate safety features. To be certain, you can directly ask the logistics provider about their security measures.

3. Ensure Safety Features Are Available

For fragile items, such as glass-based products, choose a vehicle equipped with extra safety systems. This is crucial to maintain the integrity of your goods until they reach their destination.

Types of Freight Vehicle

Choosing the right type of freight vehicle should be based on the characteristics of the goods, load volume, and distribution needs. Here are some common types of freight vehicles used across various industries:

1. Pickup Truck

A pickup truck is a freight vehicle with an open cargo bed at the back. It is commonly used for commercial or business-related transportation needs. Its open structure makes it suitable for carrying various goods over short distances, especially for small-scale businesses.

2. Box Truck

A box truck is a widely used logistics vehicle favored by businesses for its large cargo capacity. It offers better security and protection for goods, especially from weather changes during delivery. Box trucks come in several variants, including CDD (Colt Diesel Double), CDE (Colt Diesel Engkel), Fuso box trucks, and Tronton wingbox trucks.

3. Blind Van

A blind van is a compact cargo vehicle with a fully enclosed cargo space and no side windows. It is ideal for transporting small, fragile, or valuable goods such as electronics. Its main advantage is maneuverability in crowded urban areas due to its smaller size. However, its limited capacity makes it less suitable for large or bulk items. This type of vehicle is often used by courier services to deliver small household items or electronic goods.

4. Engkel Truck

An Engkel truck is a cargo vehicle equipped with a cargo bed and capable of carrying loads of up to 2.5 tons. Its dimensions are approximately 3 meters in length, 1.6 meters in width, and 1.6 meters in height. With a maximum power of 100 PS at 3400 rpm, this truck has a higher load capacity than pickup trucks and vans, making it an efficient choice for your logistics needs.

5. Towing Truck

A towing truck is a specialized vehicle used to transport a single car on its back, whether for short or long distances. Shipping costs using a towing truck are generally higher due to its specific function. This vehicle is also extremely useful in emergency situations—such as floods—since it can safely transport a car using a flatbed or by towing it inline with the road.

6. Open-Bed Fuso Truck

The Fuso Bak is a high-capacity open-bed truck ideal for transporting industrial goods or large-volume materials, such as mining products, timber, or construction materials. Its main advantage is its large load capacity, although its size may be less flexible for narrow or crowded roads. This truck is commonly used for shipping heavy and bulk goods.

7. Refrigerated Truck

A refrigerated truck is specially designed to transport goods at controlled temperatures. This type of cargo vehicle is essential for preserving the quality of products like fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and pharmaceuticals during distribution. With a stable cooling system, products stay fresh and safe until they reach their destination. To ensure smooth delivery and product quality, it’s important to use a truly reliable logistics service.

This is where MGM Bosco Logistics comes in as the solution. With extensive experience in the cold chain industry, MGM Bosco operates more than 1,000 refrigerated trucks equipped with GPS and Thermo-Loggers.

This technology ensures that the temperature remains stable throughout the journey and allows for real-time shipment monitoring.

In addition, MGM Bosco also offers comprehensive freight transportation services, from planning to proof of delivery—everything supported by a modern system and a professional team.

For safe, on-time, and temperature-controlled deliveries, trust your logistics needs to MGM Bosco Logistics. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more information.